Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 326 · 40 questions

Debater's tip (Two sides, one motion): Motion: the statement being debated, often starting “This House believes…” or “This House would…”. Proposition: for the motion, speaks first, defines the key words, ends “I beg to propose”. Opposition: against it, answers the proposition, ends “I beg to oppose”. Good debate topics for students have two real sides; a plain fact is not debatable.

1. 1.📜 The team that argues against the motion is called… (a) the opposition (b) the proposition (c) the audience (d) the judges
2. 2.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) must prove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
3. 3.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
4. 4.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) must disprove the motion (d) is against the motion
5. 5.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
6. 6.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
7. 7.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) defines the key words (c) is against the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
8. 8.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “This House…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Breaking news…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
11. 11.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
13. 13.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) may test the definition (d) must prove the motion
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must prove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
15. 15.⚖️ Which side is against the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
16. 16.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) may test the definition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
17. 17.True or false: “This House would ban homework at weekends.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would ban homework at weekends.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
19. 19.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must disprove the motion (b) speaks first (c) is against the motion (d) answers the proposition
20. 20.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
21. 21.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
22. 22.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) must prove the motion (c) defines the key words (d) may test the definition
23. 23.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
24. 24.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
25. 25.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) is for the motion (d) must prove the motion
26. 26.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) must disprove the motion (c) is against the motion (d) is for the motion
27. 27.📜 What is a motion in a debate? (a) the timekeeper (b) the topic statement (c) the winner’s prize (d) the last speech
28. 28.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition
29. 29.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes board games beat screen games.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
30. 30.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) speaks first (d) is against the motion
31. 31.True or false: “This House would start school an hour later.” is a debatable motion. (a) False (b) True
32. 32.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
33. 33.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) says “I beg to oppose” (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) defines the key words
34. 34.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the proposition (b) the audience (c) the opposition (d) the judges
35. 35.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) must disprove the motion (b) defines the key words (c) answers the proposition (d) may test the definition
36. 36.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) must prove the motion (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) answers the proposition
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would start school an hour later.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
38. 38.True or false: “This House believes a year has twelve months.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable

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